THE ANALYST. JANUARY, 1884. INTRODUCTION. IN commencing this yeay’s issue of THE ANALYST we beg to call the attention of our readers to the fact that the Journal is necessarily of a dual nature. As its title implies, it is not simply a record of the proceedings of the Society, but is a general Journal, devoted to the propagation of the knowledge of chemical and microscopical analyses, containing speciaily the proceedings of the Society of Public Analysts. ThKs the Society is in no way pledged by tho opinions of the Editors; and, on the other hand, the latter are not bound by those of the Society. Any other papem published or abstrhcted are not thereby furnished with the imprimatur of the Society. In future it is intended to print all Sociaty affairs under the definite heading of (( Proce&kys of the Sockty of Pic& AizaZysts,’? and to place at the end of such matter the worcls ‘( conclzcsioiz of the h’ociety’s proc~e&ings,” and the names of publication committee and abstractors will be omitted. The Editors earnestly invite the co-operation of all interested in analysis, and mill accept suitable paperg, on the usual terms, from gentlemen not members of the Society.The Editors remrve to themselves the sole right of judging as to the suitability of all matter thus submitted, while they do not in any way interfere with the Society’s papers, but publish, as a matter of course, all read before that body, unless specially requested by the Council not to do so. Good sacccilzct abstracts from foreign journals will also be received and paid for on a reasonable scale, and members of the Society are earnestly requested to cut out and forward (addressed to the Editors, care of Mesrsrs.Baillidre, Tindall & Cox, before the 21st of each month) all reports of legal cases in which they may be interested, especially when any novel point may arise. The Society of Public Analysts have taken what promises to be an exceedingly important step in appointing a committee to deal with the vexed question of milk, and to obtain, if possible, a real agreement between all those iherested, whether members of the Society or not. As is comrnon in such discussions, many acrimonious remarks have been made, which in cooler moments would have been left unsaid, and we trust that in the new year all such feelings will be set aside. An earnest of the coming ra9prochenzmt was given by Rr. Voelcker’s interesting remarks at the last meeting of the Society. If Mr. Bell and his colleagues could only now see their way to aid the com- mittee with their views-not as oEcials, but purely as scientific men assisting their confrdres-we feel sure that ti result would be arrived at as to milk standards as would redound to the credit of British chemistry. The investigation and disoussion mill of course be purely in committee, and so not a public matter; but we are certain that all analysts mill await the result with impatience, and agree to bow to the decision of a body of men representing all shades of present opinion, as the proposed committee promises to do.